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When the 1st Air and Space Communications Operations Squadron recently underwent a command-wide cybersecurity assessment, leadership quickly recognized the need for reinforcement.
To meet the demanding requirements, the squadron turned to fellow wingmen across the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, alongside augmentees from Air Combat Command, the 691st Cyberspace Operations Squadron, and the 693rd Intelligence Support Squadron.
“Col. [Leland] Cowie made this inspection our No. 1 priority,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Araceli Macias, 1st ACOS commander. “While balancing our daily operational mission, wingmen from across the base stepped forward, dedicating nearly 3,680 hours to ensure we were fully prepared.”
As a first-of-its-kind unit, 1 ACOS is charged with delivering, operating, and defending command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities across U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa.
To prepare for the assessment without disrupting that theater-wide mission, the squadron transitioned to 12-hour shifts 60 days prior, dedicating focused time to preparing documentation and system hardening.
“It truly was a team effort, as augmentees from across the wing and partner units came together and combined their expertise toward a common goal.,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Louis Phillips, 1st ACOS senior enlisted leader.
Phillips noted that the 435th Communications Operations Group provided 800 hours of augmentation support. In addition, other Airmen contributed 160 hours per week over a six-week period (totaling 960 hours) to support an essential facility renovation project, allowing cyber operators to focus squarely on assessment readiness.
“The feedback we received from the inspectors is that they could tell we prepared,” said Macias. “I credit that to the hard work my Airmen dedicated and to the support we received from across the base.”
